A man has been rescued after becoming stuck in mud up to his waist in Llanelli.

A Loughor Independent Rescue Lifeboat was sent out to help the 49-year-old man just before 2pm today after he had become stuck in mud up to his waist at the Llanelli side of Loughor Bridge.

John Edwards, secretary of Loughor Inshore Rescue Lifeboat, said mud rescue crews from Burry Port Coastguard and Port Talbot Coastguard helped in the rescue along with Mid and West Wales Fire Service, the Welsh Ambulance Service, Dyfed Powys Police, South Wales Police and other agencies.

Mr Edwards said the Loughor Inshore rescue crew was first to arrive at the scene and reassured the man while they assessed the sand he was trapped in.

Crew members then started to remove the sand by hand, digging in down the side of the man's leg.

Mr Edwards said the man's two children, aged around five and eight, were also at the scene and "watched in fear for their Dad's safety" but who were being reassured by crew members.

Mr Edwards thanked the person who spotted the man from a bridge and who called 999 and asked for the coastguard.

He said: "A successful outcome to what could have been a tragedy watched by two young children. Boat recovered and washed down and back on service by 7.15pm."